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Today’s Devotional – May 4th

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Mark of the Beast & Seal of God

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“…this is that spirit of antichrist,

whereof ye have heard that it should come;

and even now already is it in the world…

They are of the world:

therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them…

We are of God…he that is not of God heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

1st John 4:3, 5, 6

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There is no shortage in today’s Christian community, of ideas about just what is this “mark” which Revelation 13 speaks of.

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Yes, the Bible says… “And he (the 2nd Beast) causes all,

both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,

to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

And that no man might buy or sell,

save he that had the mark,

or the name of the (1st) beast,

or the number of his name…

Six hundred threescore and six.”

Revelation 13: 16-18

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Mark of the beast – public domain – Wikipedia

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BELIEVER OR MAKE-BELIEVER?

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Some say it is a literal mark on one’s forehead or right hand.

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Others say it is some world-wide computer, that keeps track of everyone’s business and doings.

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Still others believe it has to do with the day of one’s worship.

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Still others say it is a type of bar-code which will be placed on the forehead.

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And yet, still others say it will be a micro-chip embedded in one’s hand, or forehead.

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Mark of the beast – public domain – Wikipedia

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A MUCH DEEPER ISSUE INVOLVED

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But there is a deeper issue to all this.

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And that issue is this: just what is it that distinguishes a “true worshipper of God”, from the “false brethren”?

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This is the great question which needs to be understood!

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After all, God is not going to alter His everlasting covenant!

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No, God’s Word has spelled out all that is required for Salvation.

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And these principles are not negotiable, nor changeable.

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So let’s take a few moments to quickly lay out the difference between a Believer, and, as one preacher puts it, a “make-believer”.

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Magnifying Glass – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

 

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WHO SITS ON THRONE OF THE HEART?

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Now if one goes to the core of the issue, Salvation is a matter of the heart!

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Merely going to church each week, or paying tithes, or serving in a church office does not save anybody!

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Jesus plainly says…

…”Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you,

saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth,

and honoureth Me with their lips;

but their heart is far from Me.”

Matthew 15:7, 8.

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So Jesus lays out here a basic principle: true Salvation has to do with the thoughts of the heart.

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Yes, it is in a person’s forehead that the thoughts occur.

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This is the location of the heart.

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Mark of the beast – public domain – Wikipedia

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THOUGHTS OF THE HEART!

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Next, Jesus revealed to His disciples, just why the Pharisees, which were outwardly righteous, were actually inwardly wicked!

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Listen… “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,

murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

These are the things which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

Matthew 15:19, 20.

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Yes, the Pharisees were outwardly very moral and very neat and clean and organized.

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But in heart, they were filled with the attributes of Satan!

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And Jesus plainly stated here in this above passage, that it is the evil thoughts of the heart that defile a person.

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Mark of the beast – public domain – Wikipedia

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PURIFY YOUR HEARTS YE DOUBLE-MINDED!

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Now, on the other hand, the Bible is filled with many passages which reveal that the Christian must put away all evil in the heart.

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Listen to the words of James… “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8.

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So in this above verse, James reveals where the wickedness is: in the hands and in the heart and mind.

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And as he says, we Christians must cleanse our hands of all wickedness, and purify our hearts and minds of all divided allegiance! (Here is a veiled reference to the Mark of the Beast, which is in the right hand or in the forehead!)

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In other words, there is no room in God’s kingdom for those who profess to love God, while at the same time serve the gods of this world!

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And it is with the hands and with the mind that we serve other gods! 

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Mark of the beast – public domain – Wikipedia

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THE DAY SHALL DECLARE!

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And the Bible reveals that at the end, it will be made manifest, just who worships God, and who worships Satan, as he comes through this beast power.

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Listen…

…”and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon (Satan)

which gave power unto the beast:”

Revelation 13:3, 4.

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Yes, as this passage indicates, to worship the beast, is to worship the dragon, Satan!

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And so, it is imperative that every man, woman, and child, who makes a profession of loving God, begins to do the work of purifying the heart, and eliminating all selfishness which manifests itself in the works of our hands.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH GOD!

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“Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience,

when your obedience is fulfilled.”

2nd Corinthians 10:5, 6

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Now there are many Christians who have been taught that such an admonition as Paul makes here, is impossible! 

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But listen again to Paul…

…”Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the Power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20.

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Yes, as this verse reveals, God can do exceeding abundantly more in our hearts than anything we have asked for, or even believe is possible!

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And that statement, dear Christian, opens very big and very real possibilities, does it not?

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to engage in the process of purifying my heart. Please give me the trials which will cause me to look up and keep my mind stayed upon Thee…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Mark of the Beast & Seal of God…

…or you can also read…“April 3rd (Mark Now Given? Part 1)“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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LOCATING THE DRAGON

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REVELATION 12 DRAGON IS NOT DRACO!

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First, let it be stated, that this Dragon Constellation is not the same constellation commonly referred to as “Draco” (photo to right is Draco, AKA Ursa Minor).

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This Revelation 12 Dragon from Signs Of Heaven, has not been previously recognized.

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But you will discover that it is a very intricate and complex constellation, once you are comfortable locating it.

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Draco, Ursa Minor Wikipedia share-alike license

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THE DRAGON OF REVELATION 12 CONSTELLATION. The star-charts below are from Wikipedia and are combined into one chart to show these three constellations, which the editor has sketched over with these three constellations, as they appear when in the west.

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Hopefully, this will be an assist in locating these constellations in the night-sky.

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LOCATION…

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The Revelation 12 Dragon Constellation can be located by finding Orion in winter months.

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The Dragon is to Orion’s left, and the Dragon’s mouth is right next to Orion’s shield.

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This Dragon’s mouth is the V-like constellation The Hyades Cluster, which is also known as the head of Taurus the Bull.

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The Dragon’s tail-tip is Pleiades and the lower shaft of his tail is partly of Aries and Pisces.

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Then with aid of a dark and starry night, you may begin to connect the mouth and the tail with a very long body in an oval shape.

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The front and back legs are made of a few stars: the front legs partially of stars from Taurus .

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The back legs and rear fin are made of 6 stars from the Cetus Constellation.

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BODY HARD TO SEE

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The long oval-shaped body has relatively few stars, but can been seen, howbeit with a dark, starry night.

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The four stars of the front fins are made partially of Taurus.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“May 5th (The Proper Way to Wash Dishes!)”

Washing dishes at LGC wikipedia share-alike license

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Today’s Devotional – May 1st

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DINOSAURS & NIMROD

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“In The Beginning,

God Created the Heavens and Earth”

Genesis 1:1

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So, just where did the dinosaurs come from?

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Were they the product of evolution?

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Were they the ancestors of modern-day reptiles?

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And just where did they go?

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Did they become extinct when a giant asteroid hit earth and completely wiped out all dinosaurs?

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And if that asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, why didn’t it wipe out all the other animals too?  

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Dinosaur – Apatosaurus louisae , Carnegie Museum. – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

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ANIMALS GOING EXTINCT TODAY, TOO!

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Well, let’s just use a little logic.

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Just how do species become extinct today?

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After all, there are species which have become extinct in modern times.

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And our government is designating more and more species as being “endangered species”!

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Dodo display – Oxford – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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PALUXY RIVERBED DINOSAUR TRACKS

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In Texas is an active river, the Paluxy River, in which dinosaur tracks line the riverbed. 

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But the big question is, why does an active river have dinosaur tracks?

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After all, if these animals went extinct 65-80 million years ago, as we are told, then simple logic would determine that the Paluxy River would have been eradicated millions upon millions of years ago! 

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Paluxy River – Wikipedia – share-alike license (View of river)

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BIBLE SPEAKS OF “GIANTS” IN THOSE DAYS

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No, this river is a testament to the Bible account, which says…

“There were giants in the earth in those days…“

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But it doesn’t specify whether those giants were people or animals, or both.

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It only says “giants”.

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And after establishing that fact, that there were giants, it then speaks of giant people intermarrying with God’s people.

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And when it says, “in those days”, it is speaking about the days prior to the Great Flood of Noah’s day.

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Paluxy River – Wikipedia – share-alike license (River bottom)

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NOAH’S ARK

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So just what happened to them?

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Did they get destroyed in the flood?

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Did that great deluge completely wipe them out?

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Or did they board the Ark, and sail to the other side of the flood?

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Well, all the well-preserved fossils indicate that these titans were mostly buried in the various layers of settling mud and silt that resulted from the receding flood waters.

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But skeptics scoff at that idea, laughingly saying that the Ark could never hold two of each kind of these great beasts!

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But just look at these dinosaur eggs in the photo below! They are very small.

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And Creation scientists remind us, that many baby dinosaurs were about the size of a dog.

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So, Noah’s Ark could easily have held very young and very small dinosaurs.

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Noahs ark – Currier & Ives – www.wikigallery.org – public domain

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COMMON SENSE LOGIC…

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And so, the question that remains, was God intelligent enough to know how to bring baby dinosaurs (and other species too) into the Ark?

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Obviously, God is infinite in wisdom and understanding!

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Dinosaur Eggs – Segnosaurus nest – Wikpedia – Creative Commons Lic. 2.0

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NIMROD 

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But what happened to the various species of animals which went extinct AFTER the flood?

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The Bible speaks in its usual concise manner concerning this…

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Listen… “And Nimrod…

began to be a mighty one in the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before the LORD:

wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.”

Genesis 10:8, 9

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In this little passage is revealed what probably happened to many of the animals that then existed after the flood…

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…mighty hunters, even as Nimrod.

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by G. Dore’_The Confusion Of Tongues from www.creationism.org-public domain

 

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SATAN AND HIS MASTER-PLAN

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Now if Nimrod was an adulated individual, and there were many others like him, it’s not hard to deduce that Satan’s hand was not far from all this.

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With an I.Q. and powers far beyond any mortal, makes it a very real possibility that Satan was the master-orchestrator of this entire business of “prehistoric dinosaurs” which lived millions of years ago.

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US public domain

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JUST A PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO

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And so, just a little simple biblical deduction allows us to surmise what possibly happened to the reptile species, living in those days.

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But herein was presented a plausible scenario, based on the Bible, that makes a great deal of common sense.

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me enough understanding of what the Bible says concerning all these things, not only for my own peace of mind, but that I may direct others to the Bible, to answer their own doubts…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “November 7 (A Heavenly Hobby)“…

…or you can also read… “November 9 (Where Did All The Laws Come From?)“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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FIRST APPEARS IN MID-SUMMER

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This Dragon constellation appears in the eastern horizon about mid-summer in the pre-dawn hours, spewing his flood-waters northward toward the Revelation 12 Woman in Travail (not pictured in this chart).

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The Wave of Water is primarily composed of the Constellation Auriga.

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There are two dimmer stars (#’s 1 & 2) which are closest to the Dragon’s mouth.

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These two dimmer stars are also part of this Wave of Water.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“May 2nd (Faith That Overcomes!)”

Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

 

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Today’s Devotional, Year 1 – April 29th

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Two Turtledoves Constellation!

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Part 2: 

“Mourning Doves & Us”

To read Part 1, click here…April 9th (Two Turtledoves Constellation, Part 1)

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“But they that escape of them shall escape,

and shall be on the mountains

like doves of the valleys,

all of them mourning,

every one for his iniquity.

All hands shall be feeble,

and all knees shall be weak as water.”

Ezekiel 7:16, 17

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Mourning dove – (cropped photo) – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE TWO TURTLEDOVES CONSTELLATION

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A most amazing and wonderful constellation appears in early spring in the south.

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It moves from east to west during the night and slowly moves to the western horizon by fall.

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The ancient Pagan cultures referred to it as Sagittarius.

(The three stars at the top of the 2nd Turtle-dove are not shown in some Sagittarius Star-charts, but are in others.)

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Sagittarius Constellation star-chart from a Wikipedia. Editor of this site has sketched in the Turtle-Doves. Star-chart is under Share-alike license

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TWO TURTLEDOVES IS ALSO THE ARK CONSTELLATION

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Yes, if you look at it in the southern sky in springtime or summertime, you can easily see it as two twin birds flying westward.

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But amazingly, this Two Turtledoves Constellation (left) can also be seen as, The Ark of The Covenant Constellation (right)!

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This, of course, is a bit of an optical illusion.

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“And there shall be signs in the sun…moon, and…stars…”

Luke 21:25

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So, just why would God place this particular sign in the night-heavens?

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Why is a constellation of two birds flying westward so significant to the Gospel…

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…why so significant, that God thought it important enough to arrange the very stars in the night-heavens in such a way that they depict this heavenly phenomenon?

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Well, the Reader is highly encouraged to go to and study the article, “What Is The Meaning of the Two Turtledoves Constellation?” (click here to read)

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It gives a more comprehensive explanation of this constellation and all that it means to us.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations with Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & The 12-Star Crown (aka: Corona Borealis) & The Cross-Scepter (aka: Ophiochus & Serpens) & Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net

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“Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes”

Job 42:6 

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But today’s devotional will deal with just one important aspect to this amazing constellation.

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And today’s signature Bible passage gives us a great biblical truth.

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Listen once more…

“But they that escape of them shall escape,

and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys,

all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

All hands shall be feeble,

and all knees shall be weak as water.”

Ezekiel 7:16, 17

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The entire Chapter 7 of Ezekiel lays out God’s complaint against the apostasy of His wayward people, who have loved this present selfish world more than they loved the Ways of Heaven.

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But this above passage reveals that some of God’s people will escape that apostate organization, only to begin to deal with their own personal apostasy.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“like doves of the valleys…mourning…for his iniquity”

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But then, God uses cooing doves to illustrate how those escapees of the apostate churches will finally face the truth of their own past waywardness, and the resulting sins which separated them for such a long season away from their God.

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And just as the Mourning Dove sings its woeful song, so also, we Christians will…

…”escape and shall be on the mountains

like doves of the valleys,

all of them mourning,

every one for his iniquity”

Ezekiel 7:17

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Mourning dove – (cropped photo) – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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“This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

2nd John 1:7 

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Yes, we are sorrowful because we allowed ourselves to be deceived by the Master of Deceit, as he brought in antichrist deceivers into the church-world, who led us to commit spiritual adultery with the world.

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ABOVE PHOTO: speaker with audience raising hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“Flee out of the midst of Babylon”

Jeremiah 51:6 

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But now, our eyes have been fully opened to discern our perilous situation, and we understand that we must flee out of the midst of Babylon (the apostate churches), and escape to the mountain of God, just as Lot fled Sodom on the night before her destruction!

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Picture – Lot Escapes – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing”  

2nd Corinthians 6:10 

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Now there is a further truth concerning the mourning sound of doves.

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You see, the dove which makes such a sad cooing is actually joyful, as she calls for her mate.

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And thus, it is, with Christians as we cry out after our Lord.

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That is, even though we are sorry for our miserable past, we nevertheless are, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” 2nd Corinthians 6:10 

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Yes, it is only through the miraculous power of God’s Spirit that the Christian actually finds joy, even in his or her times of tearful sorrow and heartfelt repentance before the Lord!

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This is just one more wonderful aspect to being a Christian!

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Prayer – Anna Blunden – For Only One Short Hour – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“Come out of her, My People!”

Revelation 18:4

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Oh yes, the hour is late. And we must hurry along!

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And so now, O trembling child of faith, it is high time we escape from the apostasy of the fallen church-world and…

…”be on the mountains,

like doves of the valleys,

all of them mourning,

every one for his iniquity”

Ezekiel 7:17

 

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Rock pigeons on cliffs – Wikipedia – Share-alike license

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

April 11 (Two Turtledoves Constellation! Part 3: “Forsaking All to Follow Jesus!”)

Jesus Calls Disciples – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, open my eyes that I might realize how I have been deceived by the great harlot who has put the bottle to my mouth to drink of the wine of her fornications…

Woman praying – Heinrich Seufferheld – 1893 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE

For further study, you may wish to read… April 29 (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Part 10: “Peter’s Conversion”)…

…or you may also read…December 12 (The Gospel According To Pollyanna, Part 5: “Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter!?!”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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“But they that escape of them shall escape,

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and shall be on the mountains

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like doves of the valleys,

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all of them mourning,

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every one for his iniquity.”

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Ezekiel 7:16

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION

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THE TWO TURTLEDOVES CONSTELLATION…

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This constellation appears in early spring in the south.

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It moves from east to west during the night and slowly moves to the western horizon by fall.

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It is commonly known as Sagittarius.

(The three stars at the top of the 2nd Turtledove are not shown in some Sagittarius Star-charts, but are in others.)

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Sagittarius Constellation star-chart from a wikipedia. Editor of this site has sketched in the Turtledoves. Star-chart is under Share-alike license

 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “What Is The Meaning of the Two Turtledoves Constellation?“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“April 30th (Man In The Iron Cage!)”

Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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Daily Devotional – April 27th

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Nature’s Witnesses,

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Part 5:

‘Law & Order’

To read Part 1, click here…January 25th (Nature’s Witnesses)

 

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“Because sentence against an evil work

is not executed speedily,

therefore the heart of the sons of men

is fully set in them to do evil.”

Ecclesiastes 8:11

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BEAUTY, POETRY, WISDOM & LAWS

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ALL TESTIFY OF OUR CREATOR!

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So in Part 1, it was put forth that in all of nature, there are four witnesses, who all testify in behalf of the Creator!

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Beauty, Poetry, Wisdom, and Laws, all stand up and speak so eloquently in defense of nature’s God!

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And it would seem that any doubter or skeptic who would open his or her mind to carefully consider the testimony of these four very persuasive witnesses…

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…most rational folks would eventually come to the same conclusion: there has to be a Creator, who is filled with these same qualities:

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God, the Creator of nature’s beauty.

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God, the Creator of nature’s poetry.

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God, the Creator of nature’s wisdom.

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God, the Creator of nature’s law & order.

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped & altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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5TH WITNESS: LOVE!

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But since the writing of that first devotional, (click here to read), yet another witness found in nature, has risen up in defense of the Creator: a powerful witness that defies and even decimates the supposed logic of the so-called Theory of Evolution!

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And so, in Part 4 (click here), we saw that there are not four, but five witnesses found in nature, which all testify of God’s Creation!

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And just what is that 5th witness?

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LOVE!

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Yes, love is the 5th witness found throughout nature!

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Mother Child face-to-face – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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LAW & ORDER IN THE UNIVERSE

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Now, this Part 5, will take a closer look at one of the witnesses already mentioned in Part 1: “Law & Order”

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Yes, here is a very powerful witness, which puts to death this entire nonsense that the universe is the consequence of some accidental cosmic explosion.

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Solar System – NASA – Public Domain

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LAW & ORDER PRODUCED FROM CHAOS?

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After all, how could some cosmic accident produce a well-ordered universe which operates by law & order?

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That doesn’t make any sense at all, does it?

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Yes, every aspect of nature is controlled by law and order.

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No matter what part of nature observed, law and order are in control.

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And with all these laws, it is evident that there must be a divine Lawgiver…God.

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DNA – animation – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE LAWS OF HEALTH

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Take, for instance, the laws concerning health.

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By trial and error, Mankind has discovered that in order to enjoy continued health, there are natural laws which must be obeyed.

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And by continued disobedience, humans will eventually begin to suffer the results of that disobedience.

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Consequently, by continued OBEDIENCE, humans may enjoy better health and longevity.

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Fruit Cocktail – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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DEATH SENTENCE UPON HUMAN RACE

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Now of course, because of sin, there is a death-sentence upon the human race that cannot be avoided.

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And so, eventually we all must die.

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Nevertheless, Mankind can avoid even greater troubles by obeying the laws of nature.

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Homeless and cold – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

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A POWERFUL TESTIMONY FOR A CREATOR

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Now this truth regarding the laws of health only exalts the Bible and its Author.

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Because, just as the Bible commands the human race to return to obedience to the Laws of God, nature likewise encourages obedience to its laws.

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And those who disobey those laws will eventually suffer the judgments which God has written within the laws of nature.

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And so, the laws of nature are a powerful witness, testifying of God’s existence and His supreme authority over the universe.

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And so, just as the Bible encourages righteous living, so also, the laws of nature encourage righteous living; but they also punish wrong living.

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Marathon – New York – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike Lic.

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GOOD NEWS! GOD CALLING US BACK!

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Now, the Good News is this: God is willing to help us to return to an obedient relationship with Him…

…”Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD,

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked;

but that the wicked turn from his way and live:

turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;

for why will ye die…”

Ezekiel 33:11

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God here is pleading with this rebellious planet to return to an obedient relationship with Him.

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And not only did His Son, Jesus Christ, come down from Heaven to be our role-model for right living, but made this all possible by laying down His life on our behalf.

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Yes, forgiveness for our disobedience of God’s Law, was provided by Christ’s atoning death on the Cross!

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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CREATION MOMENTS

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Now, if the reader would like to learn more about the Laws of nature, please bookmark this following daily 2-minute broadcast called, “Creation Moments” in which a different aspect of nature is highlighted each weekday…click here… “CREATION MOMENTS”

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South American Butterfly – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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TO READ PART 6, GO HERE…

February 14 (Nature’s Witnesses, Part 6: “The Poetry of Nature”)

Worker ant carrying leaf – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the joy of knowing more about the wonders of nature. Help me to see, not only the beauty and poetry of nature, and the wisdom of nature, but also the many pictures of Love: God’s love in nature…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…“MARCH 19 (Babylon = Baby-Land! Part 5: Living By The Law!)”…

…or you may also read…November 9th (Where Did All the Laws Come From?)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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HEAVENLY OBJECT LESSON

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“Then the moon shall be confounded,

and the sun ashamed,

when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion,

and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.”

Isaiah 24:23

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When God created the Moon and the stars, He ordained them to “rule the night” (Genesis 1:16).

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The Moon, especially when it is full, can light your pathway through the night, as it reflects the light of the Sun.

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So too, the Christian is to be a light to the world: to this sin-darkened world.

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But as the Moon must reflect the light of the Sun, in order to be a light to the world, so also must the Christian reflect the light of Jesus, to be a spiritual light to this planet in rebellion. Listen…

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“Ye are the light of the world…

Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

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However, during an eclipse, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, preventing that sunlight from shining on the Moon’s face.

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This is an incredible object-lesson about when the child of God allows the world to come between him and his Lord.

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Like the eclipse, that person no longer reflects the light of Jesus, because his or her love of this dark world of sin has eclipsed the light from the “Sun of Righteousness” (see Malachi 4:2).

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And so, this is just one of the many poetic truths seen in the Moon. (For more on this subject of an eclipse, you may link to the article… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”)

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Dutch Painting: Um_moinho_dominando_a_baía_à_luz_lunar wikimedia US public domain

This is a drawing of a winter-time total lunar eclipse, first published in Bilder- (Picture Atlas of the Stemenwelt) in 1888

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

“April 28th (The Key To Victory!)”

Bible and Key Divination – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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Today’s Devotional -April 26th

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Television: “Enchanted Ground!”

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“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,

that ye should not obey the truth,

before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,

crucified among you?”

Galatians 3:1

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“Beware! Ye Are On Enchanted Ground!”

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In John Bunyan’s earth-shaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, there was an episode in which the two pilgrims crossed over the Enchanted Ground.

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Afraid of becoming sleepy from the narcotic-producing plants, they began a conversation to keep from falling asleep.

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On Enchanted Ground – Pilgrim’s Progress – Public Domain

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TV VERY INFECTIOUS!

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Now of course, this book by John Bunyan was so prophetic, that this allegorical episode has even more relevance today, than it did back in Bunyan’s day!

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Take, for example, television (and Internet, etc.).

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After just one day of watching all the fun and entertaining programs, the Christian is little more ready for Jesus to come, than maybe a secular person!

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As The Preacher warned…“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business…” Ecclesiastes 5:3.

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Just as this above verse warns, it is easy to allow all the earthy pleasures and proud pursuits of this busy-busy work-a-day world to begin to eclipse our relationship with our Lord.

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ABOVE PICTURE: TV indoctrination – www.signsofheaven.org

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VIGILANCE LOST BY WATCHING T.V.

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The Bible clearly warns…

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“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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Yes, as this verse warns, there are many who try to tell us that evil communications do NOT corrupt Christian character.

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But “be not deceived”, O Pilgrim of the Cross!

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Even the most amiable programs will put the viewer into a totally disarmed spirit!

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The spirit of watchfulness is quickly lost!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – companys-coming 

 

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“CHRISTIAN” TELEVISION NO BETTER!

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And just a short viewing of “Christian” TV networks reveals that the same giddiness and spiritual lethargy of the world has even infiltrated into the ranks of the Christian Community!

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And all one has to do, is to look at how well Christians have merged with unbelievers!

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Yes, today’s average Christian shares much the same entertainment: comedy, sports, news, dramas, talk shows, and a vast array of other types of social intercourse with unbelievers!

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Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TELEVISION: OPIATE FOR THE MASSES!

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And by mingling ourselves with the world, and even with worldly Christians, we will catch that “enchanted-ground” spirit, and quickly fall into a narcotic-like stupor! 

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And that is one very big reason why Paul warned the Church…

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?…

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”

2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 (condensed)

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This above passage shows that we cannot assume that God will even treat us as His children until we are ready to separate ourselves from every unnecessary worldly association!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE!

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O fellow Christian! If you or I are in a situation which demands that we must watch television, such as family or career situations, we really need to pray for wisdom and grace, to help us solve such a great dilemma!

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After all, souls are hanging in the balance!

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Listen again to Paul’s warning… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness…” 1st Corinthians 15:33, 34.

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Did you notice that this passage compares evil communications with being spiritually asleep?

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Do you think that perhaps God had the modern high-tech devices in mind when He spoke these words through Paul?

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Of course He did!

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ABOVE PICTURE: television & the image of Satan – www.signsofheaven.org

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“WATCHMAN, WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?”

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We are to be watchmen on the walls of Zion!

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And that’s why Satan invented the TV!

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To put God’s watchmen to sleep!

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Listen to this prophecy… 

“His watchmen are blind… sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber….

and they are shepherds that cannot understand…

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine,

and we will fill ourselves with strong drink;

and to morrow shall be as this day,

and much more abundant.”

Isaiah 56:10-12 (condensed for brevity and clarity).

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This prophecy seems to have a dramatic application for today!

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And so, if ever there was a time to beware that we are standing on Enchanted Ground, it is now!

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We are to be spiritually alert!

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We must wake up and trim our lamps!

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There is not a moment to lose!

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SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS, ARMOR UP! THE HOUR IS AT HAND!!!

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ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – www.signsofheaven.org

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the strength to walk away from the high-tech devices that so easily put Christians into a spiritual slumber. Wake me up Lord, and make me a vigilant watchman….

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Television & The Image That Speaks”…

…or you can also read… “February 10th (Television in a Perfect World!)“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…

And there appeared another wonder in heaven;

and behold a great red dragon,

having seven heads and ten horns,

and seven crowns upon his heads…

And the serpent cast out of his mouth

water as a flood after the woman,

that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.”

Revelation 12:1, 3, 15

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The Revelation 12 Dragon’s Wave of Water Constellation…

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The Wave Constellation is primarily comprised of the Auriga Constellation plus one star from Taurus, plus one more star.

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The Winter Constellations are depicted in this below sketch to the right, and shows this constellation group as they are seen in early winter, as they rise in the eastern skies.

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The Woman is in the north.

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The Dragon and Orion are farther south from the Woman.

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FLOOD WATERS…

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No matter where this constellation is in the night sky, this wave of water is always going towards the path of the Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness).

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This wave of water is made of the Auriga Constellation plus two fainter stars closer to the Dragon’s mouth.

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Let’s see what Scripture has to say about flood waters.

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“And the serpent cast out of his mouth WATER AS A FLOOD after the woman,

that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood..”

Revelation 12:12.

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So, what do these flood waters represent?

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Does the Bible have anything to say about Satan’s flood-waters?

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW….

“April 27th (Nature’s Witnesses, Part 5: ‘Law & Order’)

Stylised Lithium Atom – Share-alike Lic. – Wikimedia Commons

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Today’s Devotional – September 16th

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Dawn of the Dead!

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Part 1:

“Music”

Inspired by the article…“Running The Christian Race (Part 2, Sensual Music)”

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Are you old enough to remember that startling movie, “Dawn of the Dead”?

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Being one of the first of its kind, it had a stunning effect on movie-goers.

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That is, to see dead people slowly sleep-walking through a giant shopping mall, surrealistically going through the motions of shopping…

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…and all this, while silky violin strains of “elevator music” echoed through those halls…

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Needless to say, this was a giant shock to movie audiences back in those days!

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Dawn of the Dead – Wikipedia – Copyrighted – Fair-Use Rationale

Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality 

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“THEY SHALL BURY IN TOPHET, TILL THERE BE NO PLACE”

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Now, the premise of that movie was that some apocalyptic holocaust had killed off the bulk of Mankind, leaving no more room in Hell.

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And this is loosely based on Jeremiah’s end-time prophecy…

…”Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD,

that it shall no more be called Tophet,

nor the valley of the son of Hinnom,

but the valley of slaughter:

for they shall bury in Tophet,

till there be no place.”

Jeremiah 7:32

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Thus, the post-apocalyptic world was now mostly populated by these half-dead zombies, who continually sought to cannibalize the few surviving humans left on earth!

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And that infamous shopping mall became the backdrop for this very dark and macabre scenario!

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Dawn of the Dead – Wikipedia – Copyrighted – Fair-Use Rationale

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DO THE WALKING DEAD TRULY EXIST?!

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Now this devotional is not promoting the idea that we should be watching movies.

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No, but rather, the Bible declares our pre-Salvation condition in the following manner…

…”And you hath He (God) quickened,

who were DEAD in trespasses and sins: 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Ephesians 2:11, 12

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Yes, the Bible repeatedly pronounces our condition as being walking-dead souls, prior to Salvation!

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That is, without the life-giving Holy Spirit indwelling our hearts, we are merely enjoying the selfish pleasures of Satan’s Dark Kingdom of the Living-Dead!

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Zombies Night of the Living Dead-Wikipedia-Public-Dom.

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THE MUSIC OF THIS WORLD

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Now, the bulk of this fallen world’s music praises and exalts Satan and his kingdom of the living dead!

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You see, it is the purpose of most worldly music to place the greater emphasis upon the performance of a piece of music…

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…all in effort to exalt and focus the attention upon the performers and upon the composer of that composition! 

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And so, when a song is sung, the normal manner is for the singer to bring as much attention to his or her performance as possible.

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Thus, there is usually some vocal inflections added as “gingerbread icing” for the performance.

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Fans music festival in Germany – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THIS SENSUALLY-DRIVEN WORLD!

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In today’s sensually-charged society, there is quite often an effort made by the singer to sound sensual.

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And, as so often is the result, the voice is frequently strained in such a way as to sound as seductive as possible.

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The Bible encapsulates the wisdom of this world as being, “earthly, sensual, devilish” James 3:15.

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Therefore, it only makes sense that the music of this fallen world should likewise reflect those same “earthly, sensual, devilish” qualities.

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Karla – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU license

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“…wiser in their generation, than are the children of light“

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Now, the Bible tells us that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8

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Yes, the people of this world really know how to make their music in such a way, that it is deeply stamped with the name of their “first love”, “the god of this world”. 2nd Corinthians 4:4

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And truth-be-told, the “children of light” , God’s people, can actually learn a great lesson from them!

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It just might be wise to take note of what they do in the physical realm and translate that into spiritual terms!

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The Grateful Dead – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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SPIRITUALLY TRANSPORTED

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Now, once we are “born again”, we are no longer to share in the world’s antichristian spirit.

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Listen… “Even when we were dead in sins,

(God) hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). 

And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 2:5, 6

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So, as this above passage reveals, our soul has been miraculously transported into the Throne-Room of the Heavenly Sanctuary!

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And as a result of this spiritual deportation, as God’s royal priesthood, we should now have been given a totally new Spirit, which desires Christ’s love, holiness, and purity!

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the Holy of Holies – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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JUST WHO CONFORMS TO WHO?

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And so, as part of God’s “Royal Priesthood”, I am commanded to conform myself to Heaven’s standards, and never to expect Heaven to conform to my standards! 1st Peter 2:9

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Listen… “And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2

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Yes, as this above verse reveals, it is me, not God, who needs to be transformed: yes, transformed and conformed to Heaven’s timeless ways! 

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

September 17th (Dawn of the Dead! Part 2: Tattoos)

Tattoo My Chemical Romance_-_the_black_parade – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I have been guilty of conforming myself to this world! But please help me to press forward in conforming my life to Heaven’s standards…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Paul & John: Our Role Models)”…

…or you can also read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 2, Sensual Music)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

 

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THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS

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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman….

and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon….

And there was war in heaven:

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon….

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,

that she might fly into the wilderness….

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman,

that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.”

Revelation 21:1-3, 14, 15    

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This Woman of Revelation 12 is definitely fleeing to the mountains.

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As you can see in this sketch, The Dragon of Revelation 12 is spewing out his water of falsehoods…

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…false gospels, false ideologies, various temptations, false brethren who will embrace her with the poisonous wine of the The Great Harlot of Babylon.

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And these deceived/deceiving ones are who comprise this symbolic wave of water coming forth from the Dragon’s mouth. (see “Flood Waters of Satan”)

 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 2, Sensual Music)” 

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TOMORROW:

“September 17th (Dawn of the Dead! Part 2: Tattoos)”

Tattoo My Chemical Romance_-_the_black_parade – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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Today’s Devotional -April 24th

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Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 1 

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“The Wicket Gate!”

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“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”

Matthew 7:13, 14

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A certain radio talk show host gave an admonition to a particular caller, regarding the simplicity of the Gospel…

…”Jesus told the women who came to His tomb,

‘But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter…'”.

Mark 16:6, 7

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He pointed out that this verse shows the simplicity of sharing the Gospel.

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And thus, he told this caller that it’s not necessary to go to Bible college, in order to qualify one’s own self to become a witness for Jesus.

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The only requirement for Salvation is found in this next verse… “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31

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Brooklyn Museum – Jesus Appears to the Holy Women – James Tissot – US public domain

Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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“…BUT BY EVERY WORD…”

Matthew 4:4

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And of course, this talk show host was correct.

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A Believer doesn’t need anything else, but to tell what he or she knows about Jesus.

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And to believe on the Lord Jesus is the only requirement for Salvation. 

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These are two very simple and very true concepts!

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The problem comes in when Bible teachers attempt to make these two concepts the sum and entirety of the Gospel, without any further precepts.

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And that’s the topic of this day’s devotional.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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THE WICKET GATE

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John Bunyan presented his uncanny insight of the Gospel, in his several books, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, “The Holy War”, and “Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners”.

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But in the book, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, Bunyan presented several characters who neglected to enter the pilgrim’s pathway via the Wicket Gate.

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Of course, the Wicket Gate represented the Narrow Gate, i.e., Jesus Christ.

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Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – public domain

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MANY ARE LIKE MR. VAIN CONFIDENCE

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The point is, that this talk show host has decided that the verse, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31, cannot be expanded upon.

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In other words, if one of his callers makes the simple statement, “I believe on the Lord Jesus”, the talk show host assures him that he is a true Believer!

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And here is one of the deceptions which brings many such men like Vain Confidence into the pilgrim’s pathway, via “some other way”!

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Vain-Confidence

Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE!

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The fact is, there is no passage of Scripture that stands alone, or is to be interpreted by itself.

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Listen… “Knowing this first,

that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation….”

2nd Peter 1:20

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As this passage from Peter points out, no scripture stands alone.

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It’s all connected!

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And just like a jig-saw puzzle, all verses of the Bible must fit together in order to correctly see the big picture.

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You cannot lift your favorite passage out of it, and form a “private interpretation”, independent of the rest of the Bible.

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Jigsaw puzzle – Wikimedia Commons – public domain

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FORSAKING ALL

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For instance, just take this following passage… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.

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Now this verse is one of those “orphans” in the Bible: “hard sayings” that are mostly neglected in today’s pulpits.

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And why are they neglected?

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Because, most parishioners would simply not tolerate such Bible truths for very long.

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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And this next passage is very similar in that it is another “hard saying”… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24.

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Today’s pastors cannot dwell on these kinds of a “hard saying” found in Scripture for any length of time, or they may have a rebellion on their hands!

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Because, they have unwittingly filled their pews with those who are like Mr. Vain Confidence.

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Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GOOD WORKS THE RESULT OF SALVATION!

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Now it must be stated, that Salvation is a total gift.

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And there is nothing that can be added to that gift.

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No, we can’t even choose Christ, without Him putting that desire in our heart beforehand, via His Spirit!

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But when the Holy Spirit begins to indwell a human heart, that man, woman, or child begins to desire to perform all those various spiritual good works which the Bible commands.

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And the love of Jesus makes any such sacrifices a veritable joy for the Christian to perform!

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The Exhortation to the Apostles 1886-94 – by James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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This devotional will be concluded tomorrow. To read tomorrow’s devotional, just click here…

“April 25th (Pilgrim’s Progress – The Wicket Gate! – Part 2)” 

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Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to study Thy Word. And clear my mind of all preconceived notions about what is truth. And let Thy Word dwell in me in all wisdom…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… November 22 – (The Greatest Jig-saw Puzzle Ever!) =…

…or you can also read… April 2 (ABC Christianity)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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THE NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter.

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Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story).

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Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (this sketch is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux.

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But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan.

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The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark).

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While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions.

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It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch shows the two doors are each composed of two bright stars.

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The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle.

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The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here).

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The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”. )

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches.

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The stars are not in their exact place.

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However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky.

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But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“April 25th (Pilgrim’s Progress – The Wicket Gate! – Part 2)”

Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional -April 23rd

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The Pioneer Spirit!

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“Call unto Me (God), and I will answer thee,

and shew thee great and mighty things,

which thou knowest not.”

Jeremiah 33:3

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High atop the Oregon Capitol Building is a golden image of “The Oregon Pioneer”.

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And it stands as a reminder of the pioneer spirit that once caused those men and women and children to carve their way out west, to make the land of Oregon their new home!

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Oregon state capitol building pioneer on top – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THE PIONEER SPIRIT OF AMERICA

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But this pioneer spirit was actually the foundation of this entire great nation…

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…a foundation based on the hope that men and women might achieve the political, religious and economic freedom of assembly and speech…

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…freedoms which were denied their parents in the European nations for so many centuries!

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Oregon State Capitol – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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MANY EARTHLY FRONTIERS!

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But now, centuries later, there are no more real frontiers to conquer!

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The entire world is now accessible!

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And the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are quickly becoming more difficult.

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And yet, the pioneer spirit continues on, in a very real sense!

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Yes, there exists in humans the desire to achieve personal accomplishments in their own sphere.

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Oregon Capitol Steps – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE NEW PIONEERS

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And there still exists enough economic freedom in today’s world, to allow the possibility for Americans (and some other societies) to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be!

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Many pursue their dream of carving out an empire, little or big, in whatever career they have chosen.

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Many desire to build a very nice home for their self: their very own dream home!

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Others choose to become pioneers in the various arts: musicians and artists and writers and actors, etc..

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Still others pursue discoveries in the various sciences.

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And still others pursue achievement in the discovery of new inventions.

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And of course, there are many other areas of life, in which the pioneer spirit still thrives, (although the governing powers are making these possibilities increasingly difficult)!

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Young business people – Cropped Photo – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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SPIRITUAL PIONEERS!

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Yes, in a very real sense, the pioneer spirit is still alive and well!

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But what is the point to all this?

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Well, God understands all this! After all, He is our Creator! He created us in His image.

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But how does all this relate to the Christian?

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Well, in a very real sense, we too have been chosen by God to become pioneers!

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You see, Christians have been called out of this self-seeking world, to become builders of a brand new frontier, a spiritual empire!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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THE BIBLE: MANY UNEXPLORED TERRITORIES

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Yes, we have been called to become explorers of the vast unconquered territories of God’s kingdom!

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For instance, the Bible is a book of infinite truth!

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Oh yes, our forefathers have already discovered many truths, which we now take for granted.

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But there are so many other truths just waiting to be discovered!

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And we just cannot comprehend what treasures, mysteries, and wonders which await all those who strive to conquer this new Promised Land! We just do not now know exactly what awaits us!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE HOLY WAR OF THE HEART!

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But this is not the only area of undiscovered territory!

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You see, the human heart was conquered and possessed by Satan and his armies, back in the days of the Garden of Eden.

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Yes, the angels of Satan have long ago taken possession of the hearts of Mankind!

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But when a person gets the call to come and follow Jesus, there is the great commission given us by God, to go into our hearts and reconquer that land, to make it a new territory for the kingdom of God!

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(For a closer exploration of this concept, the Reader is encouraged to listen to John Bunyan’s “Holy War”.)

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John Bunyan by Thomas Sadler – 1684 – Wikimedia – Public Domain.

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OTHERS WILL BECOME PIONEERS TOO!

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And so, as the Christian begins his or her pilgrimage into these spiritual frontiers, the great awareness comes, that there is an eternal purpose to all this!

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Not only does the Christian strive for personal victory, but there is an even further reason for achieving victory: the salvation of other souls!

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That’s right! Other souls are hanging in the balance!

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Listen to Paul… “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:20

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Here Paul speaks of Christians as ambassadors to this lost world!

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Pilgrim’s Progress 62 – p159 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GO IN AND CONQUER YOUR HEART!

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And so, Stranger & Pilgrim, it is high time we put away our vain, earthly dreams and really strive for that one and only dream that has any true meaning!

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Yes, let’s remember that all earthly dreams will eventually crumble.

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Yes, all earthly pioneers and all earthly frontiers, will eventually return to dust!

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But only those who catch the heavenly pioneer Spirit, will conquer the new frontier, which is an everlasting frontier!

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And of course, God has not yet revealed just what unconquered frontiers await us, once we enter the everlasting corridors!

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to have that pioneer spirit as I search Thy Word, and as I engage in the purification of my heart. Give me the desire to discover the vast storehouse of Heavenly riches, and mysteries, and wisdom that I will find, when I finally overcome this flesh and this world…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Arcturus (the star that wise-men follow!)”…

…or you can also read… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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“CORDS OF VANITY“

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“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:” Isaiah 5:18

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Look at the slope of this third mountain (Babylon Mtn. on right) and notice that it goes straight down to the Dragon Constellation.

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This slope belongs to the constellation commonly called “Pisces“.

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Doesn’t it almost look like the Dragon is towing this Mountain?

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It almost looks like the Dragon is transporting this “False Mountain” from the south… from Hell!

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And he has pulled it northward…next to these other two mountains.

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This would almost seem like a comical idea…if it weren’t for the destruction and death and woe caused by Satan for many-a-millennium.

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Just listen to this verse…

“Woe unto them that draw iniquity

with cords of vanity,

and sin as it were with a cart rope:”

Isaiah 5:18.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“April 24th (Pilgrim’s Progress – The Wicket Gate!)”

Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional -April 15th

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Moon = Woman = Church

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Part 1

THIS DEVOTIONAL IS AN EXCERPT FROM THIS WEBSITE’S ARTICLE… How Shall The Moon Be Turned Into Blood?

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“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:

for I have espoused you to one husband,

that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”

2nd Corinthians 11:2

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“My dove, my undefiled is but one…

Who is she that looks forth as the morning,

fair as the Moon, clear as the sun,

and terrible as an army with banners?”

Song of Solomon 6:9, 10

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This little poetic book, Song of Songs, is a powerful description, in allegorical language, of the wonderful love between Christ and His bride, the Church.

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And among the many other poetic descriptions of God’s Church-Faithful, is this above comparison of God’s people to a woman…

…but also, to the Moon.

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Full moon over 96th St – by ed yourdon – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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MOON REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN

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The Moon is a wonderful object-lesson for the people of the world to behold.

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This otherwise dark orb, begins to light the world, as she reflects the light of the Sun.

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So too, God’s Church enlightens this sin-darkened world as the Church reflects the light from Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness.

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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“WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?”

Isaiah 21:11

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Just look at this beautiful painting!

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Quite often we forget that the Moon is shining the Sun’s light upon the world each night.

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Like a watchman in the night, this beautiful orb, as a lamp, reflects the light of the Sun which has already gone down.

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Such a perfect allegory of how the Church-Faithful reflects the light of Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness upon this sin-darkened world.

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Dutch Painting: Um_moinho_dominando a baía à luz lunar – Wikimedia – US public domain

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“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

coming down from God out of heaven,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”

Revelation 21:2

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

December 27 (Moon = Woman = Church, Part 2: “Ellen White, A Lessor Light that Shone in the Darkness”

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Moon over Watchtower – signsofheaven.org – Not for commercial use

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me understanding into these hidden truths….

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “How Shall The Moon Be Turned Into Blood?”…

…or you can also read…October 15th (How Shall the Moon Be Turned Into Blood? Part 1)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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“MOON INTO BLOOD TRILOGY: THE HEARING OF BLOOD

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“And there shall be signs in the sun,

and in the moon, and in the stars;

and upon the earth distress of nations,

with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

Luke 21:25

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So having said all this, there is an answer to this perplexing question, regarding just how the Moon will be turned into blood, prior to the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

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The message presented in this Moon Into Blood Trilogy is a very fearful concept, to say the least.

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You see, God has inscribed a fearful message upon the Moon’s surface: three faces.

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And these three faces are a picture of God’s people, the Church.

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And there are so many Biblical nuances connected to these three faces.

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And these nuances together, present a portrait of just what is in the hearts of God’s people, both good and bad.

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And every reference to blood in the Bible presents an aspect of truth, which aligns harmoniously with these three faces.

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And so, when the Bible declares a prophecy that “the Moon shall be turned into blood, before that Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”, then it really refers to the frightening and bloody message this heavenly orb is now proclaiming.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

April 16th (Revelation 18:23: “The Voice of the Bridegroom”)

Five Wise Virgins – Matt 25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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